Bombs, Baathists & Beyond: let's get some good news out of iraq!

The administration and their right-wing mouthpieces like Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Mr. Happy himself, Billo Reilly are always complaining that the media reports only the bad news about Iraq.

Even Laura Bush told Larry King, "Many parts of Iraq are stable now. But, uh, of course, what we see on television is the one bombing a day that discourages everyone."

Dang.

But Putie-poot recently gave the Bushies a template for how government can stop the discouragement, and spread the happy news.

This from the New York Times:

50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio
MOSCOW, April 21 — At their first meeting with journalists since taking over Russia’s largest independent radio news network, the managers had startling news of their own: from now on, they said, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.”

In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy, journalists employed by the network, Russian News Service, say they were told by the new managers, who are allies of the Kremlin.

How would they know what constituted positive news?

“When we talk of death, violence or poverty, for example, this is not positive,” said one editor at the station who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution. “If the stock market is up, that is positive. The weather can also be positive.”

Taking their lead, President Bush could sic his deregulating, tits-hating, profanity-fighting FCC to re-regulate the media- or at least deregulate their obsession with bad war news, and make us write at least 50% of it as Happy talk. Nice, positive, sweet. Upbeat. 

We were hoping to rely on Iraq Good News.com for everything, but unfortunately they haven't posted since February 24, 2005. (and we're pretty sure they were smoking something back then).

So we thought we'd offer some story ideas and good news headlines for reporters:

~ Sean Hannity to lead Baghdad Artwalk.

~ What Iraqis are paying for coffins, they're saving on electric bills.

~ Iraqi Parliament's new cafeteria: will it have a Starbucks???

~ The pesky Sunni Triangle mosquito problem is licked!

~ Kevlar sleep wear: it's a look!

~ Iraqi parents say TV violence is not a problem!

~ No bird flu; obesity down

~ Bush crimefighting initiative: U.S. Army enlistment of felons, racists, druggies, sexual offenders, 42 year olds, and gang members means fewer criminals on the streets of America, and in the halls of Congress. (Alternate angle: "Moral waivers" aren't just for the executive branch any more!)

~ Dangerous Iraqi middle class has "melted away." (Alternate angle: Iraqi middle class escape is successful).

~ Baghdad travel agents offer "getaway camping packages" in sunny, Sunni Jordan.

~ Great news for investors- now you can buy 10 million Iraqi dinar for just $8330 which will get you 2 mosques, 3 Members of Parliament and a militia.

~ Need rubble? prices at an all-time low!

~ Urban density: Baghdad's innovative solution!

~ For the ladies: single guys flocking to Iraq!

~ Religious participation is "booming" in Baghdad.

~ Baghdad real estate is a buyer's market!

~ Who needs beds? Still plenty of floor space in Iraqi hospitals!

~ Urban renewal: Baghdad's new look

Comments

[chucks]

"the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy"
Joanie, tht is your que. Too bad I have to work today. This will get interesting through the coarse of the day, I'm sure.

[Duffman]

Russia's apparent directive to portray US as enemy is yet another example of what our beloved Pres. has done to us.
Mrs Clinton has vowed to make her husband Bill an ambassador to the world. I can't think of a better suited job for him, can you? There will be a lot of 'fixing to be done in the next admin and I think the Clinton team would be ideal for this rebuilding project.
May be they could ask former President George Bush to monitor the border (from his ranch)...ooops, forget that; he may start another war...just retire, rest and collect the big pension and life-time health care.

[Brian]

Frank Shiers All's we ask for is the Following Two things
Good Home training.
Good show Prep.

[chucks]

Good morning Duffman.
Just checking in on my way out the door.
We gotta get a life.
Have a great day.
Chuck

[SeattleJew]

The death of the media is our version of the same thing.

[joanie]

Thanks SeattleJew. If you look at the hotlnk I just posted on the last thread, the death of the media was a big deal in '92. It has been dying for a long time. And now we have had six years of George Bush and four years of an illegal and corrupt war.

That is the result of big party take-over of the conversation and a one-size fits all main-stream media.

chucks: I don't get your reference. Aren't we doing the same thing to the middle east and Islam? Just insert "The Middle East and Islam" for "The United States" and what is different?

Apparently the cold war is back? Us against them?

We've certainly come a long way, haven't we?